Golf ball



Nov. 28, 1939.

R. F. SMITH GOLF BALL Filed Jan. 8, 1938 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 28, 1939 lusso PATENT OFFICE 2,181,350 l ,'GoLF BALL.

Robert nrgsmith, 'fnetroia Mich., assignor to Y, Leonard A.v Young, Detroit, Mich.

, Application January 8,1938, serial No. 183,990 ","ioolaimsf (o1. gva-62) This invention relates to improvements in golf balls.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a golf ball which is highly efficient as to distance and accuracy of flight, may beeconomically produced, and is very durable. n

A further object is to provide a golf ball having these advantages which may be vmanufactured with greatuniformity-and to meet varying conditions as to hardness or feel'and the qualities incident thereto'. l

Objects relating to the details and economies of the invention Will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims. f j

A vpreferred embodimentof the inventionv is illustrated in the accompanyingf'drawing, in

which: Y v

Fig, 1 is a section considerably enlargedof a golf'ball embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2 is anV inside View of Aone of the outer molded lamina or layer segments.-

Fig. 3v is an inside View of one of mediate lamina or layer segments.

Fig. 4 is an inside View of one `of the inner lamina or layer segments.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View partiallyin section of a modified form or embodiment of .myinvention.

the inter- In the manufacture of golf balls now commonly regarded as standard type, the body v`of the ball is formed of a core deemedfsuitableupon which there is a winding of rubber strands under. tension. A cover,usual1y of balata, is applied to this body. In the manufacture of such balls, the Winding operation and also the materialfisvexpensive and requires great care inorder to produce an approximately uniform product. Care must be taken to provide a core orA to treat the core so thatV it is not distorted during the Winding. Further, the severe usage which a golf ball receivesv when subjected to the impacts of severe blows tends vto and frequently does -displace the Winding to a greater or less extent with a result that the ball becomes out-of-round or out-ofbalance and its usefulness is thereby impaired.

My invention, in-one phase of it, eliminates entirely the Winding operation with theconsequent expense and difliculty and inaccuracy in manufacture andthe invention produces a ball which is very unlikely to have any of its component parts displaced in use except'that the cover 'may-be cut or injured. I

In another embodiment, the Winding is very materially reduced and such 'winding as is presfacilitate the ready assembling of the layers but ent` is Vupon a firm bodyso that it is unnecessary to take preliminary steps to prevent the body upon which-the Winding is placed7 becoming distorted or'out-of-round during the Winding step.

Inthe embodiment of my invention illustrated -5 in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, the body of my improved ball comprises the inner layer I, the outer layer 2, the intermediate layer 3, and the cover 4, the cover being molded directly upon the outer layer 2. The layers I, 2 and 3 are of molded rubber and in the embodiment illustrated are formed of pairs of hemispherical sections 5, 6 and 1 having rabbeted joints 8 or intertting tongue l and recess joints secured together by a cement 9, preferablya rubber latex cement.

The outer layer is provided with a multiplicity of air pockets I0 uniformlyl spaced. 'I'hese pockets are formed lasthe segments are molded, the 'outer ends of the segments being closed. It will be understood that'the number of vpockets shown may be varied and that in the drawing `they are shown spaced for convenience and clearness in illustration. The segments of the intermediate -layer are provided With similar pockets II." v'When 'the' layers are arranged in concentric relation, the`inner endsy of the pockets are sealed or substantially sealed by the adjacent vinner layer.

In' formingV the ball, the core fluid I2, preferably honey, is frozen in a mold into spherical 30 form and the segments forming the body are' then. successively assembled and cemented tof'gether. The cover which is preferably of balata is molded upon the outer layer 2 which has a roughened surface I3 with which the cover mate- 35 rial interlocks as is Well understood when cover material is molded rupon a strand-wound'body.

In" Fig. 5, an outer layer of tension-Wound rubber strands I4 is applied to the outer molded layer, the cover`4 being molded upon this strandt44) Winding. In this embodiment, the body has the appearance of a strand-Wound body.

The outer layer 2 is preferably of quite hard rubber,v at' leastk of a hardness approximating that 'of a strand-wound body. The inner layer 45 or lamina I is'preferably of relatively soft rubber and the intermediate layer of a hardness intermediate the outer and inner layers.

Therabbeted edges of the segments not only 50 they effectively receive `and retain the cement as the segments are brought together and serve as guiding and positioning means during the assembling operation.

My improved balls may be manufactured with 55 have not attempted accuracy in respect to either;

the relative size or number or location of the air pockets,

I have not attempted to illustrateor describe certain other embodiments or adaptations Which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure y will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A golf ball comprising a body portion consisting of a plurality of concentric fitting layers of molded rubber, each layer comprising hemispherical segments having rabbeted intertting edges joined by rubber cement, the outer and intermediate layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded therein, the radial dimension of each of lsaid pockets being less than the thickness of the respective layers in which they occur, the inner ends of the air pockets being closed by the next adjacent layer, the inner layer being of relatively soft rubber and iilled with a core material and constituting the core of the ball, the outer layer being substantially thicker than the other layers and of relatively hard rubber, the intermediate layer being of an intermediate hardness as compared to the inner. and outer layers and the outer layer having a roughened surface, and a cover molded upon said ball body and interlocking With said roughened surface of said outer layer.

2. A golf ball comprising a body portion consisting of a plurality of concentric tting layers of molded rubber, each layer comprising segments having cemented interlocking joints, the outer and intermediate layers having a multiplicity oi air pockets molded therein, the inner ends of the air pockets being closed by the next adjacent layer, the inner layer being of relatively soft rubber and filled with a core material and constituting the core of the ball, `the outer layer being substantially thicker than the other layers and of relatively hard rubber, the intermediate layer being of an intermediate hardness as compared to the inner and outer layers and the outer layer having a roughened surface, and a cover molded upon said ball body and interlocking with said roughened surface of said outer layer.

3. A golf ball comprising a body portion consisting of a plurality of concentric fitting layers of molded rubber, the layers being of increasing hardness in outward progression, each layer comprising hemispherical segments having rabbeted interrltting edges joined by rubber cement, the outer and intermediate layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded therein, the inner ends of the air pockets being 'closed by the next adjacent layer, the radial dimension of each of said pockets being less than the thickness of the respective layers in which they occur, anda cover molded upon said ball body.

4. A golf ball comprising a body portion con- 5. A golf ball comprising a body portion consisting of a plurality of independently formed andtting layers of molded rubber, the layers being formed of hemispherical segments and having annular tongue and recess cemented edge joints, the outer and intermediate layers having a plurality of air pockets at their outer ends molded therein and open at the front surface of the layers only, the outer layer being of a hardness approximating that of a rubber strand wound ball, the inner layer constituting a hollow core and having a uid lling, a layer of rubber strands tension-Wound upon said outer molded layer, said outer molded layer having a roughened surface for anchoring the strands of the Winding, the intermediate and inner layers being of substantially less hardness than the outer layer, and a cover molded on said winding.

6. A golf ball comprising a body portion con- 'sisting ofv a plurality of independently formed and tting layers of molded rubber, said layers being graduated in hardness, the layers having cemented edge joints, the outer and intermediate .layers having a plurality of air pockets at their outer ends molded therein and open at the inner surface of the layers only, a layer of rubber strands tension-Wound upon said outer molded layer, and a cover molded on said Winding.

7. A golf ball comprising a body portion having a plurality of concentric tting molded rubber layers united in a substantially integral structure, the inner layer being lled with fluid and constituting a core, the several layers being formed of hemispherical segments and having rabbeted cemented joints, at least one of the layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded into the same a-nd uniformly distributed, the outer ends of all the air pockets being closed, their inner ends being substantially closed by the abutting layer, the inner layer being of relatively soft rubber, the outer layer being of relatively hard rubber and having a roughened surface, a layer of tension-Wound rubber strands on said outer molded layer, and a cover of balata molded upon said Winding.

8. A golf ball comprising a body portion having a plurality of concentric fitting molded rubber layers of graduated hardnesses united in a substantially integral structure, the several layers being formed of segments and having cemented joints, at least one of the layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded into the same and uniformly distributed, the outer ends of all the air pockets being closed. their inner ends being substantially closed by the abutting layer, a layer of tension-Wound rubber strands in said outer molded layer, and a cover molded upon said Winding.

9. A golf ball comprising a body portion having a plurality of concentric tting molded rubber layers united in a substantially integral structure, the inner layer being lled with fluid and constituting a core, the several layers being formed of hemispherical segments and having rabbeted cemented joints, at least one of the layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded into the same and uniformly distributed, the outer ends of the air pockets being closed, their inner ends being substantially closed by the abutting layer, the inner layer being of relatively soft rubber, vthe outer layer being of relatively hard rubber and having a roughened surface, and a cover molded upon said outer layer.

10. A golf ball comprising a body portion having a pluralityof concentric fitting molded rubber layers lof graduated hardnesses united in a substantially integral structure, the several layers being formed of segments and having cemented Joints, at least one of the layers having a multiplicity of air pockets molded into the same and uniformly distributed, the outer end of each of the air pockets being closed, their inner ends being substantially closed by the abutting layer, and a cover molded upon said outer layer.

ROBERT F. SMITH. 

